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NC State will have their final non-conference game on Wednesday as they host Rider. Energy and focus will be front and center coming off the holiday break as State cannot overlook the Broncs before Miami. The game can be watched on ACC Sports Extra at 7 PM. What must NC State do to gain more momentum and close out non-conference play?
NC State must keep the defensive pressure cranked up…
Guards have been much more active pressuring the ball and causing turnovers in the past couple of games. Dennis Smith is averaging 2.7 SPG in his last three games and has been a catalyst for getting everyone else to play better defense. It is their defense that will determine how good of a season they will have and they need to have a clean sheet Wednesday. NC State big men have also benefited from the added pressure on the perimeter. Opposing teams have not been able to catch the ball as deep in the paint. Rider does not stand a chance if State can smother their guard play.
The Wolfpack needs to exploit mismatches as Rider lacks size…
Coach Baggett has four senior starters; however, his forward positions are only 6 feet 7 inches tall. In addition to small big men they also start a freshman guard Stevie Jordan who is only 5 feet 10 inches tall. Dennis Smith, Terry Henderson, and Torin Dorn must recognize who Jordan is guarding and use their size and athletic ability to score over him. Another area where NC State should find success is on the block. Malik Abu, BeeJay Anya, Ted Kapita, and Omer Yurtseven should be able to score over the top of the smaller Broncs as well as draw fouls.  If State takes advantage of these mismatches they will win easily.
Offensively NC State needs to continue getting everyone involved…
Since the arrival of Omer, NC State has recorded their three highest assist outputs of the season. The 25 assists versus Fairfield were the most since 2011. Shooting at a 50% clip from three has helped State rack up the assists as well. Mark Gottfried’s group has done a better job at controlling turnovers also. State has recorded more assists than turnovers in all but two games this season.  Wednesday should also give Rowan the opportunity to find his groove. Rowan should get plenty of clean looks from outside on the break. NC State’s bench has produced by scoring over 29 points in each of the last three games. With Rowan, Yurtseven, Kapita, and Johnson the Pack have options off the bench capable of producing. NC State’s depth will prove to be too much for the Broncs.
NC State has got to be ready to play as Rider will be hungry and desperate to beat an ACC foe. Rider will not stand a chance if State comes out with energy and executes their game plan. What are your thoughts on the final non-conference game?

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Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

19 pts and 16 assists. That’s what’s going to make Dennis a great player. Not scoring 30 ppg. I like it when he takes between 12-15 shots and looks to get his team involved. That’s when he’s at his best. Lots of guys can score points but few guys can get double digit assists.

Anthony
Anthony
7 years ago
Reply to  Wolfer96

sometime we are gonna need him to take over and score 30 tho. that versatility makes him dangerous.

Wolfer96
Wolfer96
7 years ago

Was Markell injured? Doesn’t look like he played.

mc991
mc991
7 years ago
Reply to  Wolfer96

Gottfried said Markell Johnson not playing was his decision, but he expects him to play Saturday. “Sometimes young people need to learn”. Not sure what he did, left for speculation. Grades maybe?

Anthony
Anthony
7 years ago
Reply to  Wolfer96

i all i have is second hand info.. but he needs to stop going to ohio over the break and stay in NC that’s all. Nothing serious but Gott is nipping it in the bud right now. Markell is a good kid he’ll respond well tot his and bounce back.

NC State Basketball

NC State’s Men’s Basketball 2024 Transfer Class Ranks in the Top-10 Nationally

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NC State’s Men’s Basketball team has picked up 4 players from the Transfer Portal this offseason, and the class ranks 10th nationally according to ON3, and 15th nationally according to 247Sports.

ON3

247Sports

NC State’s 2024 4-Man Transfer Class

Center Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Louisville)

Guard/Forward Dontez Styles (Georgetown)

Guard Mike James (Louisville)

Guard Marcus Hill (Bowling Green)

NC State still has a chance to move up in the rankings. East Carolina Power Forward Ezra Ausar just wrapped up an Official Visit to NC State, and things are looking good for the Wolfpack. ON3 ranks Ausar as the #67 overall player in the Portal, and the #15 Power Forward.

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NC State Basketball

WATCH: Andy Katz’s Offseason Convo with NC State’s Kevin Keatts

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Andy Katz is beginning to make his rounds for his Offseason Convo series, and he took the time to meet with NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts.

In their conversation, Keatts talked about what this run has meant to Raleigh and the Wolfpack fans, how it has helped sell the program the way it deserves to be in recruiting, and even how it helped and hurt in the world of the Transfer Portal.

Check out the conversation below:

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NC State Basketball

Guard Mike O’Connell Announces He Will Play His Final Year of Eligibility at NC State

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Guard Michael O’Connell announced today that he will be playing his final year of eligibility at NC State next season.

 

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A post shared by Michael O’Connell (@michaeloc_12)

Today was the final day graduate players could enter the Portal.

This past season, O’Connell averaged 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Wolfpack, starting 22 of the 41 games he played in.

O’Connell took over as NC State’s starting Point Guard on January 30th in a win against Miami.

He only scored in double figures in 9 of his 41 games this season, but 6 of those came in postseason play (5 in the ACC Tournament). O’Connell took things to another level in the ACC Tournament, playing aggressive on the offensive end, looking for his shot, and attacking the rim.

NC State played it’s best basketball of the season when O’Connell was running the show. He ranked 3rd in the ACC in Assist/Turnover Ratio (2.5).

Heading into next season, with a lineup filled with new faces, having the calming presence of a veteran leader like O’Connell is reassuring.

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NC State Basketball

ECU Transfer Forward Ezra Ausar to NC State is Trending Up

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ECU Transfer Power Forward Ezra Ausar (6’9″/240) was on an Official Visit to NC State yesterday, and according to analysts at ON3 and 247Sports, things are trending in the right direction for the Wolfpack.

Jamie Shaw of ON3 submitted a prediction for Ausar to eventually commit to NC State yesterday morning.

Cory Smith of 247Sports submitted a crystal ball projection for Ausar to run with the Wolfpack this morning.

Ausar just wrapped up his Sophomore season in Greenville, averaging 11.4 points and 4.7 rebounds, shooting 51.4% from the field. As a Freshman, he was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team, averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Ausar is a consensus 4-Star prospect in the Transfer Portal, and ON3 ranks him as the #60 overall player in the Portal and the #10 Power Forward.

Originally from Atlanta, Ausar played his Senior Season of High School at Liberty Heights Athletic Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. ON3 ranked Ausar as a 4-Star prospect coming out of high school, the #94 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.

Ausar has visited Seton Hall, Georgia Tech, met over Zoom with Georgetown, and had an in-home visit with Utah. John Calipari and his staff at Arkansas have been in touch with Ausar, as well as Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Arizona State, West Virginia, Iowa State and St. John’s. (Link)

At this point, it’s good news that Ausar has no visits scheduled after the visit to NC State.

Ausar has 2 years of eligibility remaining, and NC State currently has 1 scholarship remaining.

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